Pneumatic player mechanism for musical instruments



3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9. 1919 lllll I Hmm.

Aug. 24 1.926.

F. A. CLAPP PNEUMATIC `PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL l;NS'IRIJMEINTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9', 1919 Mm., m

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Aug. 24 1926.

` F. A. CLAPP PNEUMATIC PLAYER M'EcHANlsM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 9, 1919 5 sheets-sheets @x0 m my, Vf, LZZOTIZ eye Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES n FRANK A. CLAPP, oF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application led October 9, 1919.. Serial No. 329,462.

This invention relates to machines or apparatus in they naturev of piano players, in which power pneumatics are provided to actuate the hammer actions of a piano, and are themselves operated by air pressure under the control of a perforated sheet passing over a so called tracker bar and allowing air to flow through passages in the tracker bar when uncovered by perforations of the sheet. kThe structure in which I have embodied the invention is organized and arranged to operate piano hammer actions, but it may be arranged and suitably connected to control the tone producing means in other musical instruments, wherefore I desire it to be understood that I do not limit the scope of the protection which I claim herein to mean applicable to pianos only, or to exclude the adaptation of the principles of the invention to use for operating any musical instrument Whatever; and that vin the'` following description the reference to a piano as the musical instrument with which the 1nvention is combined is to be construed as typifying, by reference to one species the entire genus of musical instruments capable of being played by pneumatic mechanism.

There are two main objects of the invention, one of which is to produce a more compact, efficient, and simple means or mechanism for the purpose indicated than other player mechanisms yet produced, one which.

is less liable to deterioration, and can be more easily repaired when out of order; and the other object is to furnish means by which a theme, or any selected notes in a musical composition being performed on the instrument, may be accented and the accompaniment or other selected notes may be subordinated to the accented notes. These land other subordinate or secondary objects,- together with the means and principles for carrying them into effect, in which the invention principally consists, appear from the following description in detail of a preferredembodiment of the invention in a mechanism constructed for and applied to an upright piano.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an upright piano with my pneumatic player mechanism applied thereto. Figure 2 is a rear elevation, with a fragment thereof cut away and shown in section, of the principal parts of the mechanism comprising a vacuum pump, an air chest or chamber, a reservoir, a vacuum chamber,

' figures.

and power` pneumatics; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the air chest and pump showing the means for detachably connecting the pump to the chest; said section being taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional view through one of the power pneumatics and the vacuum chamber', showing y the controlling valve therefor and the means Referring firstto' Figure 1, 11 represents as a whole one of the hammer actions of a piano and 12a bar which forms that part of the-'action known as the abstract, this being the part which is lifted by the rear end of the key lever 13 when the corresponding key 14Qis depressed by the performer to strike a note. 15 is the roll box in which is contained thek drawing offl or take up spool 16 and into which is placed detachably the music roll 17. 18 is the tracker bar across which the perforated music sheet is drawn from the roll 17 to the take-up spool, such tracker bar having evenly spaced openings in its front face and passages leading to the rear from said openings. All of the pai ts thus far described may be ofl any construetion, includingthose used in the standard makes of player pianos now on the market; except that in order best to carry out my object before mentioned of accenting certain notes, I mayj/use a specialY construction of tracker bar. j

The pneumatic player mechanism comprises a series of power pneumatics 19, preferably of the usual bellows construction, there being one for each of the hammer actions within the range of the automatic player, of which one is shown in Figure 1 and three are shown in Fig. 2. yThese pneumatics are mountedk side by side kon top of a vacuum chamber 20, which latter extends across the instrument through substantially the whole length of the keyboard, or at least, through the range of the player, and is supported at its ends by means not necessary to be shown herein, as such means may be supplied by the skilled mechanic from knowledge available in the art. Each pneumatic is secured to the chamber bv a tubular nipple or coupling 2l, which is passed through the top wall 22 of the chamber and is screwed into the bottom member 23 ot the pneumatic, as shown in Figure et.

rlhis coupling is likewise a valve seat and it provides on its upper end a seating tace with which there coacts a valve 24 carried bv a. stem Q5, the iioot of which extends into operative proximity to a pouch QG of flexible material which overlics a pocket 2T in the bottom wall QS et the vacuum chamber. From this pocket leads a tubular nipple 29 which is connected with a lexible tube 30 leadingl to one of the openings in the tracker bar. i passage 31 vents the pocket 27 into the vacuum chamber.

A guide 32 is provided for the valve stem Q5 within the nipple or couplinr; and this guide ma)v be variously constructed, but most conveniently perhaps as `a helix of suicientlv stift wire, the ends of which are carried out so to bear with friction-producing pressure against the inner walls of the nipple to retain the guide therein.

in the top member 3a of the power pneu matic is an opening containingA a tube or thimble 33 which opens into the pneumatic tor the purpose of admitting air to permit expansion of the pneumatic, and the lower end ot which is provided with a seating surn 'face 35 complemental to the valve 24 to be closed bv the latter when the pneumatic is collapsed. The passage through this tube is the necessary breathing inlet. 36 is a stop for arresting the movement ot' the top mem` ber 3sin the collapse of the pneumatic when the seating sui-tace is parallel to the compleinental tace of valve A. lith the outer end the tube 3 there cooperates a valve 3T which is supported b v a springv holding arm 3S normally at a slight distance `trom the tube. but near enough to be closed against the end thereof b v a current of intlowing air. rhe latter valve. however, although useful, me@7 be dispensed with as presently appears, and th-'Yrefore not claimed as an essential ot the invention. The tube 33 is externally' threaded so that it may be screwed into and out oi the top member of the pneumatic 19, and preferabliv it is enough larger externally than the valve 2l to permit. removal of the latter through the hole which is left in said top member when the tube is removed, although in case the valve is so large in proportion to the width ot the pneumatic that so large a hole would weaken the top member, the tube ma;v be made smaller, and provision for removing the valve when in need of repair ma;y be made by taking out the coupling tube 2l after having iirst obtained access to it by removing the front wall S9 oi th vacuum chamber. This wall ma)7 be of glass, and may run in one piece the whole length ot the chamber, but pre terablv it made in panels, each olf which is removable separately. Spring holding supports or clips 40 ttor the wall or panels are proviv'led in order that the glass wall ma): be easily removed and replaced. lts transparene)v evidentlv gives a view to the interior ot the chest and enables anvtl' visiblj,v wrong therein to be detected.

Operation otA the hamm r the power pneumatic c i Ated thro arm or linger il projec` 'i rcarvsari from the top member et the pneumatic an-fl connected to a bar or link Mcl2 which in turn is connected to rocker #itil pivoted to a tixed bar 4st. which rocker has an arm underlyingr a toot projectingr treni the :.ibstract.

As shown in Figure Q two vacumn chambers are provided, the second chamber nmnbered #lo being a duplicate o'l the chamber Q0. and containing r.: poel t l? coupled with the tracker bar bv a the 3. A. flexible pouch t9 overlies the por and operates a valve stem and a valve nl connected to said stem, and cooperates with a seat on the end oi the tube which passes Ytrom the chest to the interior ot' the pneumatic and mayv be the duplicate ol thc couplinsr 21. In fact tube as well as 2l is prcl'erablj.' a coupling in order to increase the sc-uiitv ot mounting the pncun'iatic; and in short all the parts in chamber #t6 are prelierablv duplicates of the parts in cham' cr ill). An imperforate thimble or cap 5S inserted detachablv in, so as to close. au opening in the top member Si when such an opening is provided for removal o't valve 5l. The opening and its closure ma)- be ou'iltted and provisions made tor removing the tube 52, when nccessar)v for repairs. through the rear wall Self ot' the chamber. which mav be removable and mayY be made ot' glass, like the will 3S). A sturing' 55 is provi-ded to expand the pneumatic. and such spring mav be one ot a .known sort, such as a plete ot' wire having its ends embedded in the top and bottom members 23 and respectively. and being under torsional strain great enc` rh to separate these members when the air pressures inside and outside ot the pneumatic are equal.

Air is exhausted from the chambers 2l) and 4 6 b v a pump consisting ot two separate bellows each connected to one ot two pedals 5T. The pumps ma): be ol anv construction usuallv used in this art. or suitable for the purpose. and prcterablv ot Lwo rigid plates or boards 5S and 59 as `shown in Figure 3. one of which is rigidly attached to :in air chest 60. and the other ot which is pivoted to the first; and the space between the plates 5S and 59 is enclosed bv a tlerzible covering tlf'l. This listautially the construction which h 'ev-:ice adopted ior the n'ufchauivn'i by ower pneumatics previously described.

his pump is a vacuum pump and is equipped with simple intakev and outlet valves 61 and 62 consisting of flexible flaps of leather, -or other material sufliciently impervious to air, arranged to overlie, respectively a passage between the pump and the air chest, and an opening 63 in the movable pump wall 59. When the wall 59 is pushed to the rear by pressure applied to the pedals it exhausts air from the two vacuum chambers, which are-connected to the chest through tubes 64 and 65, respectively, and` an intermediate receiver or pressure equalizer 66.

Said receiver is constructed substantially like the pumps and the power pneumatics, and is normally distended by springs 67. It is coupled to the chest 60 with intercommunication and its function is to convert the distinct vacuum impulsesexerted by the intermittent pumps into a pull or suction of substantially uniform and continuous force.

It will benotedfrom Figures 2 and 3 that t-he pump members and the receiver are both attached to the chest 60 by couplings 68 and 69, respectively, which are essentially like the couplings between the vacuum chainber and the power pneumatics, that is, tubes open` from end to end, passed through one of the abutting parts, and threaded into the other art. These tubes, it should be noted, have anges on their base or rear ends for the purpose mainly of retaining a gasket or packing 71 to prevent leakage. The couplin are preferably made of metal, and pre erably also of non-corrodible metal such as aluminum. They afford a means for securely attaching together the parts which they respectively connect, which can be readily disconnected at need, and a means also for providing for free flow of air between the connected parts.

The material oit' which the rigid parts of the vacuum chamber, air chest, pumps, power pneumatics, and receiver, are made is preferably wood, as usual in this art; and the flexible fabric which encloses the spaces between these rigid parts in the collapsible bellows members (pumps, receiver, power pneumatics) may be any sheet material which is sufficiently impervious to -air and is also flexible enough to serve the purpose. Among such fabrics may be named rubbercoated or frictioned textile fabrics, soft leather, so called artificialA leather, and vso forth. f

1t is to be understood, of course', that the number of power pneumaticsis equal to the number of hammer actionsk which are controlled by the perforated music sheet. 'When the pneumatics are wider than the space between the actions, they may be arranged in two, three, or more banks with adjacent pneumatics in the same bank operating every second or every third hammer action. This arrangement, however, involves only a duplication in the vacuum chambers 20, or 20 and/i6; but all vacuum chambers are coupled with the vacuum pump, and the power pneumatics are mounted on their supportlng chambers in substantially the manner hereshown.

The power pneumatics are operable by the chamber 2O and the valve therein alone; the valve 51 being unnecessary in the normal operation and being indeed not brought into action exceptto accent a note. The uncovering of the hole in the tracker bar to which pocket 27 is connected, allows air to enter the pocket at the atmospheric pressure and puii out the pouch or diaphragm 26, raising the valve 24 and allowing air to flow from the power pneumatic into the vacuum chamber. As soon as this flow commences the cover valve 37 is closed and then the unbalanced external pressure on the pneumatic collapses it. 4Thus the top piece 34 is depressed and the associatedL hammer act-ion is thrown. The same effect will occur, however, if the cover valve be omitted and the opening through the tube 33 be made of less capacity than that through the coupling 21, forY then 'air will pass from the neumatic faster than 'it canV enter and unba anced external pressure will result. When the top piece 34 is somewhat lowered, the seat 35 comes in Contact with the upper side of valve 24, which remains raised as long as the note hole in the tracker bar remains uncovered. whereby air inflow to the pneumatic is Shut off. If now air should be admitted through tubesBO and 48 to both pockets 27 and 47. and both valves 24 and 51 should be opened at the same time, the preponderating external atmospheric pressure will be applied on the pneumatic more suddenly, and will be therefore collapsed more quickly and caused to move the hammer more swiftly and forcibly than in the normal way thereby giving a harder blow of the hammer on the string. In this way a note is accented. Hence by having two holes in the tracker bar to control each note and connecting one of the holes with the primary valve pneumatic 27 and the other with the secondary valve pneumatic 47, it is made possible to control the force with which the notes are struck and to cause selected notes among a number struck at the same time to sound louder than others, or to accent a single note or chord at any time. In this explanation the valve 24 is considered the primary valve; the pocket 27 with its pouch or diaphragm 26 is considered the primary valve pneumatic; the

valve 51 is considered the secondary valve;

and the pocket 47 with its pouch or diaphragm 49 is considered the secondary valve pneumatic. f

The construction of tracker bar which I sol have designed to secure these ends is shown in Figures :3, S, and 7. The holes in the face` or the har are arranged in pairs indicated T2 and and the holes of any one pair control the same note. In order to apply this torni ot control with a tracker bar of the ordinary length, I have made the holes in the bar slightly less than one halt the usual width. and to `give room tor the tube connection at the rear ot the bar, I have caused the throneh channels trom the tace openings to run at oppcie inclinations trom the adjacent holes Ls indicated in dotted lines by the channels marked Tel and T5 in Figure That is, the channel Tel trom the opening 72 inclines toward the upper edge of the bar while the channel 75 trom the opening 73 inclines towartfl the lower edge otI the bar. At the rear side ot the bar the openings from these channels lie in two separated lines and are spaced wider apart than are the tace openings T2. 75%, thus giving room tor connection to them ot the rigid nipples 7G, 77. TS. and 75) to which the flexible tribes 3() and i8 are attached. The pertorations in the music sheet necessarily correspond in width and location ro the front openings in the tracker bar. For playing,r notes with the normal touch the pertorations in the sheet are only wide enough to uncover one o't'the pair ot holes which controls each note, but for accoating' the note, the perforation correspendingI to the given note is either made wide enough to uncover both holes of the pair. or two separate perforations are arranged to the same effect.

l-alakine a tracker bar equipped with extra holes according' t0 the foregoing description enables it to be substituted in instruments already constructed in place of the tracker' bars originally provided. But of course I may embody the invention in a tracker bar ot greater length and so give room for holes ot correspondingly increased width.

l have described the vacuum chamber 20 as normally the primary chamber and the valve therein as the primary control valve. course the relation between this and the other clnv-.nlier may he reversed without de parture 'from the principle of the invention. Indeed that phase ot the invention which involves duplicating the vacuum chamber and control valves for accentingr the theme or other specific notes may be embodied in a pncum 'c mechanisn'i otherwise than with the specific types ot valves and valve seats here shown. rhat phase which call-s for the saine. valve controllingr the suction outlet trom the power pneumatic and the breathine' inlet, requires that such double acting valve be the primary valve, as that is the one which is always used whether the note is accented or not. Ot course when the opening in the tracker ber is covered, air is no longer drawn into the pocket 27, while it is being continuously led olf through the vent 3l, whereupon the valve is at once released and closed against the seat ot' couplinfr 2l. lVhen the cover valve 3T is used its springy holder is adjusted to separate it trom its seat. under normal conditions and to hold it away from the seat when it is pressed upon from the outside by such light pressure as is applied when the pneumatic breathes. But the protruding valve stem opens it.

The double chamber structure and double valve arrangement has utility and may be en'iployed witl'iout any regard to control of accentingr certain notes; tor this arrangement enables strong striking influences to be delivered to the han'lmer actions cven hy pneumatics oit small area on account otl the suddenness with which a great reduction of the internal pressure in the pneuamtic below the external atmospheric pressure may be eittected. The further result follows that a complete player mechanism of Small overall dimensions, and therefore capable of beingA located in a restricted space, is provided.

The arrangement and means for mounting the power pneumatic may be used either with the double vacuum chamber as shown or with a single chamber and without the means for accenting special notes. In either case it atl'ords a very rigid and secure mode of mounting the pneumatic, which is particularly secure in the case ot the double chamber and the two couplings. Thus the impulse applied by the pneumatic to the hammer action is sharp and rm and the reaction ot the impulse upon the pneumatic is not liable to work it loose. Then the connection between the pneumatic and the chamber is altogether positive and mechaniiall` that is, not dependent upon glue. and it is of a sort which is easily made air tight, since it is screwed tightly into the wall ot the pncumatic and may be packed by a gasket l`:ctween its end flange and the wall ot thc chest. Thus it is not allected by weather conditions of heat, cold, and particularly humidity.

Most of the same advantages inhere in the connecting means between the pump and air chest and between the air chest and receiver 6G as are found in the connectingr means between the vacuum chamber and power pneumatic in the situations descrilied greatly simplilies the construction ot thc player mechanism from what has been heretofore known. besides increasingT its strength: and the liability ot damage and need oil reA pairs, while making:v it much easier to 'effect repairs when such are needed. The A:great majority of repairs concern the valves for the power pneumatics, and these can be etected without harm to the power pneumat ic. Adjustment ot the seat with respect to the valve may be readily made by screwing the thimble 33 appropriately either inyward or outward, and the thimble is easily accessible for that purpose.

The opening through this thimble or tube is called in the art the4 intake or stack of the pneumatic, and where either of these terms is used in the followingclaims, they have the meaning here indicated.

As previously intimated the principles of the pneumatic player `mechanism are applicable to other instruments than pianos and may be so applied by those skilled in the art.

In the foregoing description of two vacuum chambers I have not intended to indicate that there must be two independent and unconnected chambers for carrying out that part of the invention which relates to means for specially kaccenting selected notes, for such is not the case. The qualitative effect of causing a heavier or lighter'blow is secured by providing the two valve cont-rolled openings to the power pneumatic, and this effect will result if both openings pass to the same chamber. For an accurate and quantative regulation of the force of the impulse it may be desirable to provide totally separate chambers and carry different degrees of absolute pressure in each. Whether or not the chambers are thus sepa-rate, the structure shown is mechanically eiiicient and economical in that it provides a centrally located spacing beambetween the top and bottom walls of the chamber, securing the latter rigidly and y allowing the external walls to be removed as previously described; relieving such external walls of any duty of giving strength to the structure.

The descriptive terms used in this speciiication are used for the purpose of distinguishing identification and without intent to indicate limitation. Thus the principles of the invention may be applied and used .where the operating pressure is higher than atmospheric as well as where the atmosphere is caused to exert the operating pressure by exhausting air from within the pneumatics. I have here illustrated the embodiment of the invention applied to the vacuum type of player mechanism on account of the general use of that type.

The terms pouch and pouch pneumatic used herein are intended to include generically any sort of original means or actuator capable of operating the valve of the power pneumatic by pressure of air under control of a perforatedV note sheet. While the embodiment of such original actuator or pouch is shown as a chamber having a flexible wall, the terms referred to are not necessarily limited to that structure but include other means operable to like effect.

What I claim andl desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pneumatic player mechanism comprising a chamber, a. power pneumatic mounted upon said chamber, a mechanical coupling securing said pneumatic detachably to said chamber and formed to provide a passage between said pneumatic and chamber for the fiow of air, means for creating a different air pressure within the chamber from the external air pressure, and a valve for opening and closing said passage under control of a perforated sheet.

2. In a pneumatic player a chamber, a power pneumatic lying across said chamber, a tubular coupling contained in the adjacent walls of the chamber and the pneumatic, securing one to the other and providing a connecting passage between them, a valve in' the pneumatic for closing and opening sald passage, a stem passing from the valve through said connection into the chamber, and a pneumatic for shifting said valve under the control of a perforated note sheet.

3. In a pneumatic player mechanism a chamber, a power pneumatic extending across said chamber, a tubular coupling passing through the contiguous walls of the chamber and pneumatic securing them together and having a valve seating surface toward the interior ofthe pneumatic, the opposite wall of the pneumatic having an intake and a seating surface surroundin the same in substantial alinement with sai tubular connection, al valve situated between said two surfaces and adapted to seat against one or the other, means for creating a difference between the air pressure within and that without said chamber, 'and means for shifting said valve under the control of a perforated note sheet. f

4. In a pneumatic player mechanism a power pneumatic having opposite rigid sides movable together and apart and flexible sides enclosing the space between said rigid sides, a chamber having a rigid wall against which one of the walls of the pneumatic is laid, said contiguous walls having registering openings, a tubular coupling passing through said openings and secured therein, a valve arranged to open and close the passage through said coupling, and the pneumatic having in its opposite rigid wall an inlet opening in position to be obstructed by the valve when the latter is moved into position for opening the aforesaid passage.

5. In a pneumatic player mechanism the combination with a fixed closed air chamber of a collapsible chamber having a rigid wall in contact with a wall. of the fixed chamber, and a coupling connecting said chambers together and consisting of the tube passin through and held in the contiguous wa ls of said chambers.

6. In a pneumatic player mechanism the combination with a fixed closed air chamber of a collapsible chamber having a rigid wall Cil together and consisting ot a tube pass zgthiough the contiguous Walls oit said cham bers and threaded into one of them, one end ot said tube projecting out from the tace of the Wall through which it par. es and having a flange or lip overlyingv said tace.

7. In a pneumatic player mechanism the combination With a fixed closed air chamber of a collapsible chamber having a rigid ivall in contact With a Wall of the li chamber, and a coupling connecting said chambers together and consisting of a tube passing through the contiguous Walls ot said chambers and threaded into one oi them, one end of said tube projecting out from the face ot the wall through which it. passes and having a flange or lip overlyinfr said tace and a gasket confined between said lip and the ivall.

8. In a pneumatic player mechanism a chamber having its ovvn enclosing ivalls, ak power pneumatic arranged upon a Wall of. the chamber With a passage extending trom the chamber into said pneumatici a valve seat surrounding the orifice of such passage within the pneumatic, a yalve cooperatim:y with said seat, a valve. stem extending from the valve into the chamber, a valve-operating pneumatic arranged in an opposite wall o'l the chamber to that on vvhich the power pneumatic is placed, and means for conducting air t-o said valve-operating pneumatic.

In a pneumatic player` mechanism a chamber, a poiver pneumatic arranged upon the chamber vvith a passage extending from the chamber into said pneumatic. a valve seat surrounding the. orifice ot such pas. l Within the pneumatic, a valve cooperating with said seat, a valve stem extending from the valve into the chamber, a valve-operating pneumatic arranged in the uall ot the chamber opposite to the povver pneum; and means for conducting air to said pneumatic for effecting operation there-ot. said vacuum chamber having a lateral ivall and said lateral Wall being removable to give access to said pneumatic.

l0. In a. pneumatic player mechanism. a chamber havingr opposite ivalls and an intermediate ivall. the intermediate wall being mounted detachabl;7 to give access to the interior ot the chamber` a poiver pneumatic mounted on one of said opposite Walls, the other vvall having a pouch pocket opening into the interior ot the chamber, and a flexible pouch or diaphragm arranged across the opening ot said pocket and made fast to the inner surface ot said last-named ivall.

l1. In a pneumatic player mechanism, a chamber consisting of opposed top and bottom Walls, lateral4 Walls and an intermediate spacing beam between the top and bottom Walls and secured to the latter; one ot the lateral Walls being separable from the chamber, and spring holders secured to the bottom Wall arranged to support said femovable Wall and yieldingly hold it in place.

l2. In a pneumatic player mechanism, n chamber having a top, bottom and side vvalls and an intermediate beam between the top and bottom walls, a power pneumatic secured to said top wall with communicating passages from its interior face to the chamber at each side of said beam, pouch pneumatics arranged in the bottom Wall of the, chamber respectively opposite to said passages, air admitting connections leading to the pouch pneumatics, and valves controlling said passages arranged for operation respectively by said pouch pneumatics.

123. In ay pneumatic player mechanism a vacuum chamber with a power pneumatic` secured upon and overlying one wall ot' said chamber, a valve-operating pneumatic in another wall ot' said chamber, there being a passage trom the chamber to the interior et the power pneumatic, a valve in the povvcr pneumatic arranged to cooperate with a valve seat in said passage, the power pneumatic having in its wall opposite to the passage an intake and a seat complcmental to the valve surrounding said intake, a stem p: sing from the valve into proximity with the power-operating pneumatic, being movable by expansion of the latter to shift the valve it'rom the first of the beforemamed valve seats toward the second valve seat, a tracker bar having passages through it and a conduit extending uninterruptedly `from one of the tracker bar passages to the powerpneun'iatic.

lli. In a pneumatic player' mechanism a power pneumatic, supporting means theretor, there being a passage for air between seid pneumatic andthe supporting means, 1l

a valve within the pneumatic complemental to a. seating surface around said passage, the pneumatic having in its wall opposite to the passage an opening through which the valve may be removed, and a tliimble mount` ed in said opening and secured frictionally therein to provide a displaceable closure for said opening.

l5. In a pneumatic valve mechanism, a collapsible pneumatic having an intake, a cover valve overlying said intake externally, and a springy holder for said valve normally holding the valve displaced from the intake and adapted to yield and permit closing of the valve under an excess of external over internal air pressure.

16. In a pneumatic player mechanism a power pneumatic having an outflow opening in one wall and an intake opening in the other vvall, there being valve seats surrounding each of said openings, a valve in terposed between said seats arranged to co operate with each in turn, said intake opening having also an outer valve seat and a cover valve yieldingly mounted over the outer valve seat of said intake opening and normally separated therefrom in a position to be closed against said outer seat by excess of external atmospheric pressure, the first valve having a stem projecting therefrom to a greater length than the distance between the inner and outer seats of said intake, whereby when the first valve is seated against said inner seat, the stem is effective' to displace the cover valve from said outer seat.

17. In a pneumatic player mechanism a chamber, a bellows comprisin opposite rigid walls hinged together an a flexible fabric enclosing the space between said rigid walls, one of said walls being laid against a wall of the chamber, and a rigid tube passing through thecontiguous walls and secured to both, providing a couplin and an air passage between the bellows an the chamber. v

18. In a pneumatic player a chamber. a power pneumatic lying across said chamber, a tubular coupling contained in the adjacent walls of said chamber and pneumatic, a valve adapted to seat across said tube, a stern extending from said valve through said tube, a guide for centering the valve embracing said stem and detachably mounted in said tube, being formed to leave unobstructed air passages between itself and inner surface of the tube, means for creating a different air pressure within the chamber from the external air pressure, and means for shifting said valve under control of a perforated note sheet.

frictionally engaged with the walls of the tube, means for creating a different air pressure in the chamber from the external air pressure, and means for shifting said valve under control of a note sheet.

20. In a pneumatic player mechanism having two exhaust openings and an intake opening, two valves each controlling one of said exhaust openings, one of said valves controlling also the intake opening, two valve operating pneumatics each operatively arranged to control one of said valves, and a tracker bar having a pair of holes which are separately and independently connected with the two valves operating pneumatics.

21. A pneumatic player' mechanism com` prising a power pneumatic having a plurality of outlets and an inlet, vacuum mea-ns in connection with said outlets, the inlet being open to the atmosphere, valves controlling the respective outlets, one of which is arranged to close the inlet when moved to open the outlet which it also controls, and means controlled by a note sheet for so operating the last named valve alone or for operating both valves in unison.

22. A pneumatic player mechanism having means for accenting selected notes, comprising the combination of a. tracker bar having two holes for controlling the saine note, a power pneumatic having two outlets, vacuum producing connections into which said outlets open, valves controlling the respective openings, the pneumatic having also an intake opening in position to be closed by one of said valves when such valve is displaced to open the outlet which it controls, valve operating pneumatics controlling the respective valves, and tubes passing from said valve operating pneumatics independently to each of said holes.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

FRANK A. CLAPP. 

